Snowmelt in outdoor stairs

hot_rod

It is critical that you have a tube near the front, top edge of the step. Easier said than done. That is a high heat loss area with two exposed edges. Even if the rest of the step is melted a strip of ice on that front edge is still a problem.

1/2" tube, if you keep the loop length short, helps you install with a tight bend to get two tubes per tread, one about 1-1/2 from the top and front edge. Rebar in the steps help keep the tube at that critical point. As well as accommodating concrete installers/ finishers :)

ACI indicates 3 times the aggregrate size over the tube. With a pea gravel mix you are sure to get proper coverage around a tube 1-1/2:" below the surface.

Only one chance to get it right spend enough time forming and suspending the tube where it will do the best job.

hr

Gary Jansen_4

Snowmelt in outdoor stairs

Can anyone help me out with a detailed drawing showing tubing for snowmelting the front stairs of a library? Steps will be made of a wood form, poured concrete, a tubing pass the length of a step and back, and on to the next step. The consulting engineer will not accept my rough drawings and is insisting on a detailed drawing? Ive checked a number of manufacturer's installation manuals and websites with no luck. Thanks, Gary

Dave Holdorf_2

How is this picture?

See attached file

Gary Jansen_4

step detail

Great picture. Unfortunately what the engineer wants is a "cutaway " showing rod or mesh formed and tube attached. Thanks again, Gary